School pupils who attended Cheshire East children's scrutiny meeting in the summer could be denied attendance at the cabinet meeting later this month (Image: Tim Haselwood)

Share

Get weekly updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

Schoolchildren could be denied the right to attend a council meeting about their future because Cheshire East won’t hold it at a venue large enough to accommodate them.

More than 100 schoolchildren, staff and parents are expected to travel from Tytherington School in Macclesfield, and several others from Malbank in Nantwich, to the cabinet meeting on October 18 where councillors will discuss plans to axe their free school buses.

It will be the second time the cabinet has voted on the bus service provision - which will affect 111 children living in Willaston, 72 Sandbach children, 171 at Macclesfield children and 379 across Cheshire East in total.

In June the council's cabinet voted to axe the free buses on five routes but a cross-party scrutiny committee was later unanimous in deciding the available walking routes recommended by cabinet were unsafe, hence this month’s meeting.

That meeting was held at Sandbach Town Hall because of the high number of members of public, including schoolchildren, who attended.

But Cheshire East is insisting this month's cabinet meeting is held, as usual, in the committee room at Westfields in Sandbach, which is too small to accommodate all those wanting to attend.

Tytherington headteacher Manny Botwe said: “We want all of the youngsters to be able to see the democratic process in action and if their venue isn't big enough us we're quite happy to host it here.”

Tytherington High School headteacher Manny Botwe

He is angry at the council's suggestion the children can have access to the meeting via a live webstream.

“These councillors should be able to look these children in the eye when they're deciding this,” he said.

The headteacher added he doesn't understand how Cheshire East can justify not making provision for the public, including the children, as councillors know the strength of feeling because of the petitions and how many people attended the scrutiny meeting in July at Sandbach Town Hall.

Willaston councillor Sarah Pochin agreed.

“I am concerned that Cheshire East Council, despite having ample notice to do so, have been unable to find a suitable venue for the cabinet meeting on October 18, potentially denying many members of the public the opportunity to witness the next stage in the walking routes debate," said the Conservative councillor.

Cllr Sarah Pochin

“This is an issue not only of intense public interest, but has also understandably captured the interest of affected school children, many of whom watched democracy in action at the six hour scrutiny meeting that examined this issue.

"It seems unfair that these children are now unable to see how the cabinet will deal with the scrutiny recommendations.”

Labour's Dorothy Flude is also angry at the council's decision not to relocate the meeting.

"As part of democracy, it’s the right of everybody to attend a public meeting and to be in the room where a public meeting is taking place," said Cllr Flude, who represents Crewe.

"People, including these children, should have the right to say when they agree with something or clap if they agree with what a speaker is saying, and you can’t do that from another room watching a webcast.

Cllr Dorothy Flude

"If it happens to be the case that over 100 turn up I have to ask where Cheshire East are going to put these people in Westfields because it’s so crowded. How are they going to find somewhere in the building to put more than 100?”

Cllr Amanda Stott, (Ind) said the council needed to respond to the wishes of local people wanting to attend the meeting, especially at a time when so many young people were taking an interest.

Cllr Amanda Stott

"The cabinet members need to see how strongly everybody feels about this, so much so that they're prepared to interrupt their school day and get the children there," said the Bollington councillor.

"The cabinet members need to see the children this will be affecting."

A council spokesman said: “We welcome the interest taken by students and members of the public in this agenda item and have noted that there may be a large presence of visitors to the cabinet meeting on October 18.

“The council’s democratic services team will endeavour to accommodate as many members of the public as possible, while also trying to ensure that those people who have indicated a wish to speak at the meeting are able to do so.

“The leader of the council has agreed to significantly extend public speaking time to allow a fair and reasonable opportunity to those who wish to put forward their views.

“If more space is required to accommodate the public, then additional room capacity will be made available within reasonable limits.